Apparatus for filling capsules



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. F. YOUNG. APPARATUS FOR FILLING CAPSULES. v

No. 507,870. Patented 0013 31, 1893.

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(-No Mbdel'.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. F. YOUNG. I APPARATUS FOR FILLINGCAPSULES. No; 507,870. Patented Oct. 31, 1893.

W/Wfifi lVw iii W W I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

WILLIAM F. YOUNG, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CAPSULES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,870, dated October31, 1893.

Application filed March 31 1893.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. YOUNG, of Toledo, county of Lucas, andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Filling Capsules; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to a capsulefilling machine, and has for its objectto provide a con-. venient means for automatically filling a pluralityof capsules of any desired size, with an arrangement for varying thenumber of cap.- sules filled, and also the amount of material placedwithin the capsule, as well as to secure a uniformity of the quantity ofmaterial deposited therein.

With these objects in view, the invention consists broadly in areceptacle for the material pivoted, and divided transversely by aplurality of dividers, with a plurality of funnels co-incident with thepartitioned receptacle for the material, so that when the receptacle ismoved upon its pivots, the material is dumped into the funnels to be fedto the capsules.

The invention further consists in a receptacle for the material, pivotedto swing, a plurality of knives or dividers upon a pivoted bar andadapted to swing above the receptacle, to allow the placing of thematerial therein, and then returned to cause the dividers to separatethe material into equal quantities, with means for reducing the area ofthe receptacle for material to any desired area longitudinally in orderto vary the number of capsules filled at one operation.

The invention consists further in means for accommodating capsules ofdifferent sizes, andl interchangeable funnels to co-act therewit Theinvention further consists in a V shaped receptacle for the material,and are equalized to level the material uniformly, comprising a scraperadjustable to contact with the sides of the receptacle at any heightfrom the bottom.

The invention further consists in the parts and combination of partshereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:Figure 1 is an elevation in perspective of a completeapparatus, the dividers being thrown back to disclose their constructionand operation, and also to disclose the receptacle for the material withthe gage plate adjusted to divide the receptacle longitudinally. Fig. 2is an end view in transverse section. Fig. 3 is a perspective of thegraduated reversible capsule receptacle. Fig. 4 is a side elevation ofthe scraper for uniformly distributing the material within thereceptacle. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a punch for compacting thematerial within the capsules, showing in dotted lines the addition ofpunches if desired to facilitate the work.

1 designates the base upon which is secured end standards 2 preferablyof inverted V shape, to properly brace and strengthen the same withproper lightness and symmetry of appearance, although the form is of nomaterial moment providing the front of the standards inclinesufficiently to support the movable portions with proper relation toeach other. Supported upon base 1, and preferably within a rectangularrecess 3 is a rectangular block 4, havinga series of holes 5 formingreceptacles for the capsules, each side of the capsule holder havingarow of holes 5 of different size, whereby there is provision made forthe reception of four sizes of capsules to each apparatus, and provisionfor a greater variety in sizes can be had by simply supplying an extraholder with each apparatus in which the graduation is contained.

Immediately above the central portion 'of the capsule holder isremovably sustained upon the standards a plate 6 in which is secured atnumber of funnels 7, equal to the number of capsule holes in the side ofblock 4. From each funnel 7 there is a depending tube 8, of a length anddiameter to enter the end of the capsule 9, and guide the materialtherein, and in order to close the annular space between the tube andcapsule, and at the same time serve as a weight to hold the capsule inplace, there are hangers 10 secured upon the plate 6, one to each tube,and an annular weight 11 suspended upon each hanger by means of a stud12 projecting from one side of the weight, and entering an elongatedslotin the hanger. It is designed to furnish a plurality of plates 6having the funnel and tubes of sizes to correspond with the differentsizes of capsules used.

13 designates a V shaped trough or receptacle for the material to beused in forming the capsule, and is formed with a pivot 14: upon eachend journaled in the standards 2 sufficiently in rear of the funnels tocause the forward side of the receptacle to co-ineide with the funnelswhen the receptacle is rocked upon its pivots, as shown in dotted linesFig. 2, in order to discharge the contents into the funnel. In order tosecure the receptacle in either its horizontal or rocked position, theend of the pivot is squared upon two sides, and a leaf spring 15 issecured upon an arm 16 projecting from one of the standards 2, whichbears upon the squared side when the receptacle is in either position,and holds the same in this adjustment, and at the same time allows of'ready movement by exerting slight force upon the pivots. In the presentinstance," there are twenty funnels shown, and the receptacle is of alength to deposit in each at the same time, but in order to allow ofusing a less number of funnels, there is a gage providedcomprising aplate 17 of the same contour of the interior of the receptacle, having arod 18 secured thereto, which passes through an opening in the end ofthe receptacle, and is heldin any adjustment by means of a thumb screw19. By this arrangement the gage may be set to any desired length ofoperative portion of the receptacle, and determines the space into whichthe material is to be placed, and consequently the number of capsulesfilled at one time.

In order to correctly divide the material in the receptacle into equalparts, there is a rod 20 journaled in the rear side of the receptacle,and upon this rod is secured a plurality of knives or dividers 21 equalin number to the number of funnels whereby when the material is evenlydistributed in the receptacle, the rod is revolved to cause the knivesor dividers to enter the receptacle, and being of the same contour, passthrough the material and divide the same into equal parts. The end ofthe rod 20 is squared upon two sides and a plate spring 22 secured upona flat portion, when the rod is turned to raise the dividers from thereceptacle or to introduce them into the receptacle.

23 designates a plate secured upon the upper front portion of the knivesor dividers, and serves when the dividers are inserted into thereceptacle to form a covering along the entire length of the receptacle,serving to form a spout 24 to each subdivision formed by the-dividers,and guide the material into thefunnels.

In order to level the material in the receptacle to insure an equaldischarge of the same into the envelopes, I have devised an adj ustableleveler 25 capable of being adj usted to any required width tocompensate for varying heights of the material in the receptacle, sothat if a capsule of the largest size is being filled and the greatestamount of material is being employed, the leveler will be adj usted to awidth to contact wit-h the inner inclined sides of the receptacle at apoint to level the material, and if a less amount of material is beingused, the leveler is adjusted to a less width for the same purpose.

In Fig. 5 is shown a convenient punch for compacting the material intothe capsules after it has been introduced through the funnels and tubes,which comprises a handle 26, having a punch end 27 of a diameter to fitthe capsule. If desired there may be a plurality of punches as shown indotted lines to facilitate the operation of compacting the material intothe capsules.

In operation, the dividers are thrown back, and the material placedwithin areceptacle and struck to an exact level, when the dividers arethrown forward, and caused to enter the receptacle and separate thematerialuniformly. The receptacle is then turned upon its pivots, andthe material'is poured from each compartment into its co-incidentfunnel, and gravitated through thetubes to the capsules. The receptacleis nowreturned to its horizontal position, and if the material is of atenacious character, the punch is inserted into the tubes, and anyparticles that may have adhered to the tubes are forced into the capsuleand the material is compacted therein. Plate 6 is now raised from itssupport, carrying with it the funnels and tubes, and as the tubes arewithdrawn from the capsules, the weights 11 rest upon the ends of thecapsules and hold themfrom displacement until the tubes are fullywithdrawn, when, as the studs 12 contact with the lower endsof the wallsof the slots in hangers 10, they are carried with the tubes, and theplate is entirely removed, when the capsules are capped and removed.

It will be seen that the whole operationis mechanical, and the divisionof the material absolutely perfect with reference to the quantity to beinserted into the envelopes.

What I claim is- 1. In a capsule filler, a receptacle for capsules, atilting receptacle for the material to be inclosed, funnels inco-incidence with the receptaole when tilted, and also with the capsulesand means for dividing the material within the receptacle into equalquantities.

2. In a capsule filler, a receptacle for capsules, funnels inco-incidence with the capsules, formed with tubular portions to enterthe capsules and annular weights upon the tubes, a receptacle'formaterialto be inclosed, having a movement to discharge into the funnels,and mechanism for separating the material in the receptacle into equalparts.

3. In a capsule filler, a receptacle for the ICC) IlIO

material to be incl0sed, a movable gage within the same, a plurality ofdividers pivoted to enter the receptacle and form compart-' ments,funnels in co-incidence with the compartments, and means. for securingcapsules in co-incidence with the funnels.

4:. In a capsule filler, a receptacle for capsules formed with graduatedopenings for the reception of capsules of different sizes.

5. In a capsule filler, a base, a frame, a receptacle for capsulessupported upon the base, a movable plate supported upon the frame havinga plurality of funnels and tubes inv

